Learn what Aerosoft Simple Traffic changes in Microsoft Flight Simulator, how to configure it, and how to fix missing liveries and duplicate AI traffic.
Aerosoft Simple Traffic is a lightweight airline-livery and model-matching add-on for Microsoft Flight Simulator. It uses the simulator’s own online or offline AI traffic rather than running a separate traffic injector. Install the package, enable one AI traffic mode, and it automatically gives compatible traffic real-world airline colours and identities.
What does Aerosoft Simple Traffic actually change?
Simple Traffic supplies real airline liveries and matching data for performance-friendly traffic aircraft. It does not add a fleet of fully simulated, flyable airliners, nor does it independently control where aircraft fly.
Traffic positions, routes, taxi behaviour, separation and most callsign information still come from Microsoft Flight Simulator’s selected traffic system. The add-on matches an airline identity to a suitable installed traffic model and livery. Where the exact type or operator is unavailable, it may use the closest match or fall back to a stock aircraft.
This means an aircraft can have the correct airline colours but only an approximate airframe. Simple Traffic also cannot repair limitations in the simulator’s live-data feed, AI logic or ATC. Our comparison of live, offline and injector-based AI traffic explains how those traffic sources differ.
How do I install and use Simple Traffic?
Install the package for your exact simulator version, remove competing traffic packages, and then select either online or offline AI traffic in Microsoft Flight Simulator.
- Install the correct edition. If it came through the in-sim Marketplace, download and enable it through the simulator’s content library. Packages obtained for PC through another supported distribution method should be installed with the supplied installer or library manager. Our guide to how Marketplace installation and updates differ covers the practical trade-offs.
- Check that the package is enabled. On PC, a Community-folder installation must not be buried inside an extra wrapper folder. Avoid having both a manually installed copy and a Marketplace-managed copy active at once, then restart the simulator after making changes.
- Disable conflicting traffic add-ons. Temporarily remove other AI model packs, airline-livery matching packages and external injectors. Two packages claiming the same model or airline code can cause stock liveries, incorrect matches or duplicate aircraft.
- Select one traffic source. Open the simulator’s traffic options and set Aircraft Traffic Type to either Real-Time Online or AI Offline. The wording or menu location can differ between MSFS 2020 and MSFS 2024. Do not combine an external injector with the simulator’s own traffic while testing.
- Allow the traffic models to be used. In MSFS 2020, Simple Traffic is designed around generic AI models, so Use Generic Plane Models (AI Traffic) should normally be enabled. If available, a higher traffic-variety setting exposes a wider model and livery pool. Follow any different recommendation supplied with a revised package for MSFS 2024.
- Load a suitable airport and wait. Pick an airline hub during an active local period and allow several minutes for traffic to populate. Simple Traffic starts automatically; it has no cockpit switch and normally requires no separate controller.
Begin with a modest offline AI density and low ground-aircraft density. Increasing both at once can fill stands with static aircraft, hide arriving traffic and put a heavy load on the main processor thread.
Which traffic mode should I choose?
Use Real-Time Online for traffic based on the simulator’s live service, or AI Offline when you want adjustable traffic without relying on that connection.
| Traffic mode | Where flights come from | When to use it |
|---|---|---|
| Real-Time Online | Microsoft Flight Simulator’s online traffic data | Choose this for movements tied broadly to real-world operations. Internet access and the simulator’s online services must be working. |
| AI Offline | The simulator’s AI system and any applicable packaged schedule data | Choose this for adjustable density or offline flying. Airline, route and aircraft-type matching may be less consistent. |
| External injector | A separate traffic application | Use this when type accuracy, schedules or traffic control matter more. Simple Traffic is often redundant and may conflict with the injector’s own models. |
Multiplayer is separate. Simple Traffic cannot guarantee how another player’s aircraft appears because that depends on the aircraft identifiers they transmit and the models installed on your system.
Why are Simple Traffic liveries or aircraft missing?
Most missing-livery problems come from a disabled package, the wrong traffic mode, generic AI models being unavailable or another traffic package winning the model match.
- No aircraft appear: confirm that Aircraft Traffic Type is not off. For live traffic, check Online Functionality and the simulator’s live traffic service, then wait for the airport to populate.
- Traffic appears in stock colours: verify that Simple Traffic is enabled, restart the simulator, check the generic AI model setting and disable competing livery or model-matching packages.
- Only some airlines are correct: the traffic record may lack a usable operator code, or the package may not contain that airline and aircraft combination. A fallback model is expected in those cases.
- Aircraft are duplicated at gates: reduce or disable Ground Aircraft Density. Static ground aircraft are generated separately and can occupy the same stands as live or offline AI.
- The aircraft type is wrong: Simple Traffic works with a limited pool of traffic-optimised models. It may prioritise an airline livery over an exact airframe match.
- Performance drops: reduce offline AI density and ground aircraft first. The liveries themselves are relatively light; simulating many aircraft, vehicles and ATC interactions is the expensive part.
- ATC becomes congested: lower traffic density. Simple Traffic does not change the underlying controller logic; our instructions for configuring and troubleshooting the built-in ATC system cover the related settings.
Does Simple Traffic work in MSFS 2024 and on consoles?
Compatibility depends on the specific package revision and platform licence, not simply on owning Simple Traffic for MSFS 2020. The original package was made for MSFS 2020, so use it in MSFS 2024 only when your simulator library identifies that edition as compatible.
On PC, an older Community package being detected by MSFS 2024 does not prove that its models and matching rules work correctly. On Xbox Series X|S or PlayStation 5, PC installers and Community-folder packages cannot be sideloaded; Simple Traffic must be offered and licensed for that console through the in-sim Marketplace.
Is Aerosoft Simple Traffic the right type of traffic add-on?
Simple Traffic suits simmers who want recognisable airline colours with little setup while retaining Microsoft Flight Simulator’s built-in traffic system. It is less suitable when exact aircraft variants, tightly controlled schedules, realistic parking assignments or an independent traffic feed are the priority.
A mistake we see constantly is expecting a livery and model-matching package to solve every AI traffic problem. Simple Traffic improves what the traffic looks like; the selected MSFS traffic source still determines where it appears and how it behaves.